LONDON.- Bank of America Merrill Lynch announced that its 2013 global Art Conservation Project is open for applications. Submissions are welcome from not-for-profit arts and cultural institutions that have significant works of art across all media, requiring conservation. Submission deadline is 30 November 2012.

The Bank of America Merrill Lynch Art Conservation Project is a unique initiative that provides grants to not-for-profit organisations throughout the world to conserve historically or culturally significant works of art that are in danger of degeneration, in order to preserve them for future generations. Introduced in 2010 across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the programme was expanded this year to include the U.S., Asia Pacific and Latin America.

“We are delighted once again to work with institutions around the world and to play our part in preserving precious works of art and historical artifacts for future generations to enjoy and learn from,” said Rena DeSisto, International CSR and Global Arts and Culture executive at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “We firmly believe that the arts help to drive economic stability and further cultural understanding. I strongly encourage applications from institutions so they can potentially benefit from our unique project.”

Previous grant recipients include Pablo Picasso’s Woman in Blue at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid; five Marc Chagall paintings at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art; a range of historical and artistic pieces at Westminster Abbey, London; a collection of photographs from the Arab Image Foundation, Beirut and an early manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan.

Applicants can submit proposals online: http://museums.bankofamerica.com/arts/Conservation/Apply.